Samba team grateful to learn game at Wawens Cup

By LARRY ANDREW
PARTICIPATING in the 2018 Wawens Cup soccer tournament opened the doors for local teams from Tamigidu in the Labuta local level government, Nawaeb, Morobe to expose their talent says coach Akibu Kepas.
The Samba coach said they played under the local Sports Association and the teams participating in the Wawens Cup were not a squad but made up of interested players who want to develop their skills in soccer.
“The team is not a club but made up of interested players who came togther to form a side to represent their area and compete in the Wawens Cup.”
According to Kepas there were no town players or representative players in his team but raw talents from the village.
Kepas said their preparation for the tournament was playing in village competitions.
“We initially wanted to field the team in the U17 tournament but the players wanted to test themselves in the seniors and that’s what we did,” Kepas said.
“I have my faith in the boys but the onus was on them to organise themselves and be disciplined on the field.
“We have learned a lot of things and will prepare and come back in 2019 to have another shot at the Wawens Cup.
“We played some teams with National Soccer League talent and experienced but my boys gave their best.
“We drew two games, won one and lost two in the pool stage and that was a good effort,” Kepas said of his side’s results.
Kepas said his squad were happy to take part in the tournament and although they could not make it out of the pool stage they were aiming to return at the next tournament and going one step better.
Coach Kepas acknowledged the Tamigidu community for their assistance in providing accommodation and meals for his team during the duration of the tournament.